UK beaches: Water "excellent" at most!

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6665383.stm

The bathing water at 63% of the UK's beaches tested in a survey has been awarded a rating of "excellent".


The top rating was given to 494 out of 787 beaches checked by the Marine Conservation Society on the 20th anniversary of its Good Beach Guide.

But the MCS warned global warming might cause water quality to fall in future. The Blue Flag awards, which are given to the cleanest beaches in England, have also been announced, with 85 beaches winning this particular prize.



Thomas Bell, the MCS's coastal pollution officer, said: "MCS is delighted to recommend over 60% of UK beaches this year on the basis of excellent water quality.

"This is great news for the thousands of holidaymakers heading to the British coast this summer. "We're also delighted to report that the number of beaches achieving our tough water quality standard is four times higher than 10 years ago.



"Britain's beaches used to be awash with sewage, and the Good Beach Guide drew a line in the sand 20 years ago for what was acceptable.

"Today we're enjoying the benefits of that campaign."

But the MCS said the number of beaches achieving the top water quality standard may have peaked because storm-related pollution, a result of climate change, has become an increased threat to coastal waters.

Low rainfall, such as that experienced in three of the last four British summers, boosts bathing water quality because of a lack of storm-related pollution.

Coastal pressures

Warmer, wetter winters and summers which contain violent storms and flash floods are forecast to be a consequence of climate change and the MCS says these will substantially increase coastal pollution pressures. Mr Bell said: "Heavy rain translates into poor weather quality because waterborne pollutants such as raw sewage, petro-chemicals and farm waste by-pass the sewer system and sweep directly from the land into rivers and the sea.



"This effect was particularly apparent across the UK during summer 2004 and throughout last winter.

"It's a serious problem that we believe will worsen in years to come."

Alan Woods, chief executive of ENCAMS, which runs Blue Flag in England, said the winning beaches in its survey were a sign of a "fantastic achievement".

He said: "Beaches put up for a Blue Flag face three rounds of judging, the final being the international jury.

"Standards are high and there is little leeway for those that make the cut.

"That's why any beach bestowed a Blue Flag should be shouting from the rafters celebrating such a fantastic achievement." The Blue Flag survey, which is conducted worldwide, measures 29 criteria from accessibility for disabled visitors through to the number of bins provided, lifeguards and litter levels.

MCS BEACH AWARDS

South West of England - 156 recommended out of 195 beaches monitored
South East - 98 recommended out of 135
North West - 7 recommended out of 33
North East - 52 recommended out of 67
Scotland - 48 recommended out of 110
Wales - 104 recommended out of 175
Northern Ireland - 13 recommended out of 27



England's Blue Flag Awards

 

Get On The Sw!

 

Pah...

I Wouldn't Dare Bathe in the River Mersey...

 

The waters around Britain and especially Scotland are very clean. I am planning to go to Brighton this Summer so will if possible try out the water. Hopefully not too cold.

 

Wales has the best beaches. The Gower is stunning in some places.

 

I remember the good days and encounter one place in wales called Abberporth. It has an RAF base. But anyway, I enjoyed looking into the water from the rocks. At low tide I could go right around the cave. The waters were clear. And wales does have a lot of sandy beaches

 

ile have you know that their is salmon in the mersey now ........still in its tins granted .

 

Hahahahaha....

 

I think there is a small bay near Merseyside. Should be clear water. I wouldn't swim in the mersey. It is like the Bristol channel, full of whirlpools and strong undertows. Plus it is a busy place.

 

in suffolk, two of our beaches lost their blue flag status...


did your county steal them?

 

I bet they have some nice beaches in Wales, but you canny beat ouir beaches in the South-West. The research says so...:jester:

 

I bet an English did the research...Grrr!

 

mwouhahahahaha WOOOOOHAHAHA hahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Those ratings mean zilch zero nil none nothing
every year the biggest and most money spinning resorts get best beach awards. Do you think they would award Bournemouth with a crap beach certificate and potentially lose bournemouth 750 million in tourist $$$$
no way - samew for all of them - infact whatever they call sellarfield now - have a look even its beaches are rated excellent and they have got fish with 5 eyes up there.

hahahaha in independent tests britains beaches had vast tracts of polution - just grab a handful of sand at any one of them and now sort out the plastic from the sand ! hahahaha

 

Of course they mean something, it is all to do with the clean up of effluence that used to be released in the sea, and not little bits of plastic. It's only natural that Whitehaven would have the best water purity, engage brain and it become obvious.

If anyones interested all they really need do is ask the surfers they'll tell the truth, unless of course they disagree with what you want to think then they'll probably all be government agents out to fool you.

 

You really do know sweet fuck all when it comes to things such as the environment.


Dapablo: I agree with you. For one thing... Surfers against Sewage haven't majorly complained for a while!